Vehicle canopy-top.



J. R. BARKER.

VE H|CLE CANOPY TOP. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5. WM.

1,1 98,815. PatentedSept. 19,1916.

INVENTOI? r/a 777 is A. Bar/3 A 1mm UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'JAMES R. BARKER, OF. DETROTT, MICHIGAN VEHICLE CANOPY-TOP.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 19, 1916,

Application filed November 5, 1914. Serial No. 870,389.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES R. BARKER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle Canopy-Tops, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to collapsible vehicle canopy tops, and it is the object of the invention to obtain a construction which may be easily manipulated by one person, and quickly adjusted from its collapsed to its extended position.

To this end the invention comprises the construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the canopy frame in extended position; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing in full and dotted lines respectively the partially collapsed and fully collapsed positionsj and Fig. 3 is an elevation at right angles to Fig. 2.

A is the main supporting bow, which is pivotally secured at B to the sides of the vehicle and is vertically arranged when the canopy is in use.

C is a rearwardly-inclined bow pivotally attached at D to the bow A, and serving to support the rear curtain. Secured to the opposite sides of the bow A are lazy-tong lever frames which as shown comprise the levers E F G H. The levers E and F are pivotally attached at I and J to the sides of the bow A and in extended position project horizontally therefrom. These levers are pivoted to each other at K and their outer ends are pivotally connected at L and M with the levers G and H, which also extend in a horizontal position.

N is a bow or cross-bar attached to the outer ends of the levers H, forming the front of the canopy, and O is another bow or cross-bar pivotally attached by straps P to the pivot L connecting the levers F and G, whereby said last-mentioned bow is movable independently of either of said last-mentioned levers.

With the construction as thus far described the levers when in the position shown in Fig. 1 constitute a horizontally-projecting frame which supports the forward bow N and intermediate bow O to which the canopy top is secured. To permit the collapsing of this frame the lever F is formed with a brake-joint section comprising the members F and F 2 pivotally connected at F and having a pin or stop F for holding said sections normally in alinement. weight of the forward portion of the canopy top as well as the guide-straps which secure it, will hold the sections F and F normally in alinement and will prevent the breaking down of the joint. When, however, the forward end of the canopy is lifted this will cause the lever F to turn upon the pivot K, breaking downward the jointed sections F and F after which all of the levers may be removed into the position shown in Fig. 2. During this movement the bows N and 0 will not be permitted to drop downward, but will travel laterally toward the bow A until arranged in close proximity thereto. The bow A may then be turned downward into horizontal position and will lie adjacent to the bow B, which also is dropped from inclined position to the horizontal, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. 7

One important feature of my invention is that the canopy top is not permitted to drop below the horizontal during the col- The i lapsing movement, which prevents it from interfering with the heads of the occupants of the vehicle.

Another feature is that in collapsed position all of the bows lie in close proximity to each other and may be stored in small space.

A further feature is that the extension of the canopy only requires the pulling forward of the bow'N until the break-joint sections F and F are turned into alinement with each other, while in the collapsing of the canopy it is merely necessary to lift the bow N slightly and then to press it inward toward the bow A.

A very important feature of my invention is the curved arrangement of the levers comprising the lazy-tong lever frame to provide sufficient space between the adtween the adjacent bows When the frame is for the top proper when the frame is in 001- 10 in collapsed position for the top proper. lapsed position.

2. A vehicle canopy top provided With a In testimony whereof I affix my signature {main i100W, a lateraly-extercisilole lazy-tong in presence of tWo Witnesses:

ever rarne mounte on sai ovv, comprising levers bent intermediate their ends and JAMES BARKER adjacent their pivotal connection With their Witnesses:

corresponding levers, the bends providing JAMns P. BARRY,

sufiieient space between the adjacent levers HENRI E. BOWMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, I). 0. 

